Lessons and Carols

for Advent December 14, 2011 + 6:30 p. m.

A special welcome to those who are visiting; the addition of your praise and thanks to God heartens us all. If you are seeking a church home, you are welcome here.

Restrooms are located directly across from the Nave just outside of Gravely Hall, and a Nursery is available for infants through age five. Please do not hesitate to speak to an usher or any church member if you have any questions or need any assistance.

Welcome to Trinity

About This Service…

Tonight’s lessons and carols are organized around the “Great O” Antiphons, a series of chants that were sung along with the Magnificat at Vespers on the seven nights before Christmas Eve. Each antiphon is a prayer for deliverance, and they all begin by addressing the Messiah by one of the prophetic titles found in the Old Testament:

Dec 17 O Sapientia (Wisdom) - Scroll Dec 18 O Adonai (Lord and Law-Giver) – Burning Bush Dec 19 O Radix Jesse (Root of Jesse) - Tree Dec 20 O Clavis David (Key of David) - Key Dec 21 O Oriens (Dayspring) - Sun Dec 22 O Rex Genitum (King of the nations) - Crown Dec 23 O Emmanuel (God with us) – Star and Manger

These antiphons embed a striking acrostic: read in inverse order from last to first, the second letter of each antiphon spells out the words ERO CRAS, which in Latin means “tomorrow I will be with you,” a message that is not revealed until the final antiphon is sung on December 23.

Please silence all audible electronic devices prior to the service. A suggested prayer upon entering the church:

O God, whose will is justice for the poor and peace for the afflicted, let your herald's urgent voice pierce our hardened hearts

and announce the dawn of your kingdom.

Before the advent of he who baptizes with the fire of the Holy Spirit, let our complacency give way to conversion, oppression to justice,

and conflict to acceptance of one another in Christ.

We ask this through the One whose coming is certain, whose day draws near: your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Gathering

INTROIT Ronald Turner

Choir: Let me love you, O Christ, in your first coming, when you were made man for love of humanity, and for love of me. Let me love you, O Christ, in your second coming, when with an inconceivable love, you stand and knock at the door, and would enter into the souls of humanity, and into mine. Plant in my soul, O Christ, your likeness of love; that when by death you call, it may be ready and burning to come unto you.

- Eric Milner White (1884-1963)

A brief silence follows the Introit. At the Procession, all STAND and sing together.

HYMN 56, O come, O come, Emmanuel VENI EMMANUEL

INVOCATION AND COLLECT

Celebrant: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. People: Amen.

The Spirit and the church cry out, Come, Lord Jesus.

All those who await his appearance pray: Come, Lord Jesus.

The whole creation pleads: Come, Lord Jesus.

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Let us pray.

A brief Silence.

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when He shall come again in His glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through Him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

All SIT and remain seated through the Seventh Lesson.

I.

ANTIPHON O Sapientia

Choir: O Wisdom, proceeding from the mouth of the Most High, Pervading and permeating all creation, mightily ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence.

FIRST LESSON Isaiah 40:1-11

Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. 2Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.

3A voice cries out: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

6A voice says, "Cry out!" And I said, "What shall I cry?" All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. 7The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people are grass. 8The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever.

9Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, "Here is your God!" 10See, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.

CAROL Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672)

Choir: O lieber Herre Gott, wecke uns auf, das wir bereit sein wenn dein Sohn kömmt, ihn mit Freuden zu empfahen, und dir mit reinem Herzen zu dienen, durch denselbigen deinen lieben Sohn, Jesum Christum. Amen

O dear Lord God, awaken us that we may be prepared when your Son comes, that we may greet him with joy, and serve you with pure hearts, through your only beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Amen

- Martin Luther (1483-1546)

HYMN 436, Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates

TRURO

II.

ANTIPHON O Adonai

O Adonai and Ruler of the house of Israel, Who appeared to Moses in the burning bush and gave him the Law on Sinai: Come with an outstretched arm and redeem us.

SECOND LESSON Exodus 6:2-7

2God also spoke to Moses and said to him: "I am the LORD. 3I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name 'The LORD' I did not make myself known to them. 4I also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they resided as aliens. 5I have also heard the groaning of the Israelites whom the Egyptians are holding as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. 6Say therefore to the Israelites, 'I am the LORD, and I will free you from the burdens of the Egyptians and deliver you from slavery to them. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 7I will take you as my people, and I will be your God.

HYMN 54, Savior of the nations, come NUN KOMM, DER HEIDEN HEILAND

sung antiphonally between the Congregation and the Organ

Introduction: setting by Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707); Between each stanza: settings by

Paul Manz (1919-2009), Charles W. Ore (b. 1930), and J. S. Bach (1685-1750)

III.

ANTIPHON O Radix Jesse

O Root of Jesse, who stands for an ensign of the peoples, Before whom kings are mute and to whom the nations will do homage: Come quickly to deliver us.

THIRD LESSON Isaiah 11:1-10

A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 2The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

3His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; 4but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 5Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins.

6The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. 7The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder's den. 9They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.

10On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

CAROL Melchior Vulpius (c. 1570-1615)

Choir: Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen aus einer Wurzel zart. Wie uns die Alten sungen, von Jesse kam die Art.

Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming from tender stem hath sprung! of Jesse's lineage coming, as those of old have sung. It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter when half spent was the night.

- 15th

c. German carol

HYMN All earth is hopeful TODA LA TIERRA

IV.

ANTIPHON O Clavis David

O Key of David and Scepter of the house of Israel, You open and no one can close, You close and no one can open: Come and rescue the prisoners who are in darkness and in the shadow of death.

FOURTH LESSON Isaiah 42:5-9

5Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: 6I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, 7to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. 8I am the LORD, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. 9See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.

CAROL setting by George Dyson (1883-1964)

Choir: My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden. For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath magnified me, and holy is his Name. And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble and meek. He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent empty away. He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

- Luke 1:46-55

HYMN 616, Hail to the Lord’s Anointed ELLECOMBE

V.

FIFTH ANTIPHON O Oriens

O Dayspring, Splendor of Light everlasting: Come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

FIFTH LESSON Luke 1:68-79

68"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. 69He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, 70as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. 72Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, 73the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us 74that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins. 78By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, 79to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

CAROL setting by Johann Schop (c. 1590-1667)

Choir: How brightly shines the morning Star! The nations see and hail afar The light in Judah shining. Thou David's son of Jacob's race The Bridegroom, and the King of grace, For thee our hearts are pining! Lowly, Holy, Great and glorious, thou victorious Prince of graces, Filling all the heavenly places!

- Philipp Niccolai, 1597; trans. William Mercer,1859

HYMN People, look east BESANÇON

VI.

ANTIPHON O Rex Genitum

O King of Nations, The Ruler they long for, the Cornerstone uniting all people: Come and save us all, whom you formed out of clay.

SIXTH LESSON Isaiah 35:4-7a

4Say to those who are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you." 5Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; 7the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water.

CAROL Arthur B. Jennings, Jr.

Choir: Say to them that are of a fearful heart: Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will save you. The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose, for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams flow in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the way of holiness. And the redeemed shall walk there, and the ransomed of the LORD shall return with songs and everlasting joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

- from Isaiah 35

HYMN 615, Thy kingdom come, on bended knee ST. FLAVIAN

VII.

ANTIPHON O Emmanuel

O Emmanuel, our King and our Lord, The Anointed for the nations and their Savior: Come and save us, O Lord our God.

SEVENTH LESSON Luke 7:14

14Therefore the LORD himself will give you a sign. Behold, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.

CAROL Ned Rorem (b. 1923)

Choir: Mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have kissed. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yea, the Lord shall show lovingkindness, and our land shall yield her increase. Righteousness shall go before him, and peace shall be the pathway of his steps.

- Psalm 85:10-13

HYMN 60, Creator of the stars of night CONDITOR ALME SIDERUM

At the conclusion of the hymn, please kneel as you are able.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE from Common Worship, Church of England

Celebrant: In the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ, let us pray to the Father.

A brief Silence.

Hear our prayers, O Lord our God, People: Lord, have mercy.

Give us boldness to preach the gospel in all the world, and to make disciples of all the nations.

Lord, have mercy.

Enlighten Mark, our Bishop and all your ministers with knowledge and understanding, that by their teaching and their lives they may proclaim your word.

Lord, have mercy.

Bring into the way of truth all who have erred and are deceived. Lord, have mercy.

Bless those who administer the law, that they may uphold justice, honesty and truth.

Lord, have mercy.

Keep in safety those who travel, and all who are in danger. Lord, have mercy.

Heal the sick in body and mind, and provide for the homeless, the hungry, and the destitute.

Lord, have mercy.

Hear us as we remember those who have died in the peace of Christ, both those who have confessed the faith and those whose faith is known to you alone, and grant us with them a share in your eternal kingdom.

Lord, have mercy.

A brief Silence.

Heavenly Father, you have promised through your son Jesus Christ, that when we meet in his name, and pray according to his mind, he will be among us and hear our prayer: in your love and mercy fulfill our desires, and give us your greatest gift, which is to know you, the only true God, and your son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

BLESSING

All stand and sing together:

HYMN 57, Lo! he comes with clouds descending HELSMSLEY

Participating in this Evening’s Liturgy

Officiants: The Rev. Robert Sturdy and the Rev. Iain Boyd

Assistant: Charlie Jordan

Readers: Sara Hope Smith, Mattie MacDonald, Dick Gehrman, Karen Geary, David Gravely, Kristine Chaney, and Hunter Jordan

The mission of Trinity Church

is to inspire all people through the power of the Gospel

to become living members of the Body of Christ

3000 N. Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29577 Phone: (843) 448-8426, Fax: (843) 946-9637,

E-Mail: trinitymb@aol.com

Please visit our website at www.trinitymyrtlebeach.org Copyright acknowledgements: ‘Toda la tierra’ translation: Madeleine Forell Marshall ©1995 - Augsburg Fortress Publishers. ‘Carol of the Advent’ Words: Philip Dietterich ©1982 - Hope Publishing Company. Reprinted under OneLicense.net License #A 717-650. All rights reserved.